Method for treating retinal ganglion cell injury using glial cell line-derived neurothrophic factor (GDNF) protein product

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to methods for treating injury or degeneration of retinal ganglion cells by administering glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The invention relates specifically to methods for treating optic nerve injury or degeneration associated with glaucoma.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating injury or degeneration of retinal ganglion cells comprising administering to a subject suffering from such retinal ganglion cell injury or degeneration a therapeutically effective amount of a glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein product. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the injury or degeneration of retinal ganglion cells is associated with glaucoma. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the GDNF protein product is the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or a variant or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the GDNF protein product has the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 3 wherein the GDNF protein product is [Met -1  ]GDNF. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 3 wherein the derivative comprises a water soluble polymer. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6 wherein the water soluble polymer is polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein the GDNF protein product is administered at a dose of about 1 μg/kg/day to about 100 mg/kg/day. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1 wherein the GDNF protein product is administered as a sustained-release pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1 wherein the GDNF protein product is administered as a topical, oral or parenteral pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1 wherein the GDNF protein product is administered by cell therapy or gene therapy means wherein cells have been modified to produce and secrete the GDNF protein product. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein the cells have been modified ex vivo. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11 wherein the cells have been modified in vivo. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 2 further comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a second therapeutic agent for glaucoma. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of parasympathomimetic agents, beta-adrenergic blockers, sympathomimetics, indirect parasympathomimetics and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. 
     
     
       16. A method for treating injury or degeneration of the optic nerve comprising administering to a subject suffering from such injury or degeneration a therapeutically effective amount of a glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein product to promote the survival or regeneration of retinal ganglion cell axons forming the optic nerve. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 wherein injury or degeneration of the optic nerve is associated with conditions affecting the optic nerve head selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, papilledema, papillitis and ischemia. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 16 wherein the GDNF protein product is the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or a variant or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18 wherein the GDNF protein product has the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 18 wherein the GDNF protein product is [Met -1  ]GDNF.